Epiblastus lancipetalus Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 237
Type: Schlechter 17103 (B, lost; AMES); 17834 (B, lost; AMES, K)
Epiphytic, robust, up to 50 cm long. Rhizome elongated, entirely adnate to and enveloped by the pseudobulbs. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Pseudobulbs cylindrical, somewhat compressed, 6-10 cm long, when dried up to 1.3 cm across, 1-leaved, superposed, i.e. the young shoots always arising from just below the apex of the older ones. Leaves lorate-ligulate, acute or subacute, up to 35 cm long, near the middle up to 3.5 cm wide. Inflorescences fasciculate-shortened, 15-20-flowered, peduncles filiform, slender, glabrous, up to 6.5 cm long. Bract minute, scale-like, deltoid, acuminate. Flowers often incurved, glabrous. Median sepal ovate, subacute, about 0.9 cm long. Lateral sepals as long as the median sepal, obliquely triangular, subacute. Petals obliquely lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, 7.5 mm long. Lip in basal part shortly cuneate-unguiculate, rhombic-elliptic, subacute, near the middle with two semiorbicular callosities, as long as the petals, near the middle 4.5 mm wide. Column somewhat thickened, almost half as long as the lip, clinandrium low, crenulate, foot short. Anther reniform-cucullate, obtuse, glabrous. Ovary cylindrical, subsessile, about 1.7 cm long, glabrous.
(After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Flower scarlet.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1000-1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 272-11M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in light shade.